Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital has donated $9,095 to the Cannon County Board of Education to fund the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and additional cardio-pulmonary resuscitation educational equipment for every school in the district. AEDs are portable electronic devices that automatically diagnose life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia and allow on-the-spot treatment through defibrillation to allow the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. Cannon County schools serve approximately 2100 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We know that having AEDs immediately available for use saves lives, and we want this technology to be available and ready for the students, faculty and staff at our schools,” said Andy Wachtel, Chief Executive Officer for Saint Thomas Stones River, Saint Thomas DeKalb and Saint Thomas Highlands. Saint Thomas Health is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system.

The contribution is part of Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital’s community benefit initiative and philosophy, which addresses wellness and disease prevention.

ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH

In Tennessee, Ascension’s Saint Thomas Health operates nine hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 8,000 associates. Across the state, Saint Thomas Health provided more than $78 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2016. Serving Tennessee for 15 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, operating 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.sthealth.com.